Written and shared by Ginny Lamb
Thank you for taking time out of your Tuesday morning to be here. Your presence alone speaks to your shared commitment to this community, and I feel grateful for the opportunity to spend this time together as we share the important work of Volunteers of America of North Louisiana.
It has been a great honor to serve this organization, first as a board member and now as a member of the Communities in Schools, or CIS, Advisory Committee. I have been a part of many conversations, brainstorming creative, thoughtful ways to encourage things like attendance, good behavior, and course performance. Time and again, we see the same result: when students feel they belong, they will show up ready to learn.
I have also seen firsthand just how life-changing this work can be. Several years ago, while visiting a CIS classroom at Booker T. Washington High School, we experienced a sudden lockdown due to a nearby neighborhood threat. For me, it was a brief disruption. But for many students, it meant missing lunch—often the reliable meal they would have that day. I watched as the site coordinator at the time, Lauren Jackson, sprang into action, thinking about how to get snacks from her supplies to the students who needed them. She explained that situations like this were not uncommon, and that part of her job was being ready to creatively respond to unexpected situations.
That moment has stayed with me. It is a powerful reminder that CIS coordinators do far more than support academics, and that, at its heart, Volunteers of America’s mission is about belonging, about making sure every person served knows they matter and new beginnings are possible. Every day, dedicated staff and volunteers like you show up for North Louisiana’s most vulnerable.
When we strengthen on individual in need, we uplift our entire community. Even small actions, when done with intention and care, can make a lasting, meaningful difference.
Thank you. Please welcome Carolyn Hammond back on stage for final remarks.